This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 21-23, NKJV
Dear Lord, what would life be without You? It is You who give meaning to our lives. Please be close to us as we look into Your word today, for Christ’s sake. Amen
In two of our previous devotionals we dealt with remembering and forgetting. And we will be going over this topic from time to time; because what goes on in our minds, rule our lives, for good or for evil; limiting us or liberating us. Scripture tells us to “Keep your heart (mind) with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life” (Proverbs 4: 23). Our lives are formed by our thoughts. It also tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23: 7). We become our thoughts!
We need to know what to remember. If we want to be strong we must choose our thoughts well. We become strong as we think thoughts that strengthen our faith in God. The heart of the prophet Jeremiah (presumably the author of this book), after remembering all the disasters that have befallen God’s people because of their disobedience, sank in despair. The nations surrounding them had them in derision. There was sorrow, pain, and judgment all around. There were hungry children in the streets begging for food. The noise of the soldiers, as they desecrated the temple of Jerusalem, as they looted it, filled the air. These were some of the thoughts that brought despair to the prophet’s mind. Until he recalled Who had kept them alive, through it all; then, he became hopeful!
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” Enemy soldiers may be treading our streets right now! We may be ridiculed by our enemies. Food might be scarce, and our children may be suffering from hunger; but had it not been for the goodness of God; the pity He has for us, “like a father, [or mother ]pitieth his [or her] children” (Psalm 103: 14), where would we be? Had it not been for His undying love toward us, we would not be alive to tell the story! This I remember, and once again, I begin to hope!
“They are new every morning[.]” Perhaps because they are there every morning, we take them for granted. But can you imagine what kind of world it would if God did not renew His mercies to us every day? What if we had a family today, but they were gone tomorrow? Do you know how difficult that would be? Can you imagine going to bed in perfect health tonight, and waking up tomorrow with our health taken away? Do you know what that would mean? Our entire lives would change, dramatically! But glory be to God, it is because of His love and mercy, that He remembers to renew His endless blessings to us day by day!
“Great is Thy faithfulness.” The greatness of God’s faithfulness cannot be measured. Its dimensions defy our calculating ability. The height and length and breadth and depth of His faithfulness, is equaled only by His love! As the song writer wrote, it is, “so high, you can’t get over it, so low you can’t get under it, so wide, you can’t get around it.”
When hope grows dim, just remember His endless mercies, and His unfailing compassion, and take hope.